## Later That Evening
Karan settled onto his bed in the S.T.A.R. Labs residential wing, finally alone after hours of training discussions, medical evaluations, and Wells' carefully orchestrated enthusiasm about expanding their team. His phone felt heavier than usual in his hands as he pulled up Kendra's earlier message, the simple invitation to coffee carrying implications that had become significantly more complicated over the course of the evening.
He typed out a response, deleted it, tried again.
**Karan:** Hey. Sorry for the delayed response. Today got complicated in ways I wasn't expecting.
The reply came almost immediately, suggesting she'd been waiting for him to reach out.
**Kendra:** I saw. Commercial aircraft rescue with Supergirl? That's one way to spend your afternoon. Very dramatic for someone who claims to be new to the hero business.
**Karan:** In my defense, the aircraft emergency wasn't exactly scheduled. More of an "opportunity presents itself and you either act or live with the consequences" situation.
**Kendra:** I know the feeling. Though I have to ask - how did you go from discovering you could fly yesterday to coordinating supersonic rescues with Kryptonian superheroes today? That's quite the learning curve.
**Karan:** Apparently my armor includes automatic flight stabilization and life support systems that nobody knew about until I was already thirty thousand feet up traveling at Mach speeds. The technical term is "learning through applied terror."
**Kendra:** Applied terror. I'm going to remember that for my next mythology paper. "The hero's journey as a process of applied terror leading to self-actualization."
**Karan:** Dr. Chen would probably give you an A just for the creative terminology.
There was a pause, long enough that Karan started composing another message, before Kendra's response came through.
**Kendra:** So about that coffee. Are we meeting as mythology students discussing academic interests, or are we meeting as enhanced individuals trying to figure out how to be heroes without completely losing ourselves in the process?
The directness of the question caught Karan off-guard, though he probably should have expected it. Kendra had always been perceptive, and their previous conversations had been circling around the subject of their abilities with increasing specificity.
**Karan:** Can it be both? I feel like the mythology and the heroics are pretty interconnected at this point.
**Kendra:** Fair. Though I have to admit, I'm more interested in the practical aspects than the theoretical ones. Like how you managed to maintain your civilian identity despite being filmed on multiple news channels this afternoon.
**Karan:** The armor has built-in identity protection. Creates optical distortions that interfere with visual recording and facial recognition. I didn't know about it until after my first public appearance, which was terrifying in retrospect.
**Kendra:** Lucky. My abilities don't come with convenient camouflage features. I've been relying on operating at night and hoping nobody looks up when I'm flying over residential areas.
**Karan:** We should probably talk about that. The identity protection thing, I mean. There might be technological solutions that could help.
**Kendra:** "We should probably talk about that" sounds suspiciously like you're about to invite me to meet your support team at whatever facility provides your high-tech assistance.
Karan winced at how transparent his intentions apparently were. But if he was going to be honest with Kendra - and his instincts told him that honesty was essential if they were going to work together effectively - he might as well start now.
**Karan:** Would you be completely opposed to that? Meeting the team, I mean. No pressure, but there are resources available that could help you develop your abilities more safely.
**Kendra:** Resources located at S.T.A.R. Labs, by any chance?
**Karan:** How did you know?
**Kendra:** Karan, you're living at the facility run by the man whose particle accelerator explosion created most of Central City's enhanced population. It wasn't exactly difficult to connect the dots. The question is whether I should be concerned about whatever relationship you have with Harrison Wells.
The question was more pointed than Karan had expected, and it suggested that Kendra had been doing her own research into S.T.A.R. Labs and its director.
**Karan:** That's... complicated. Wells has been supportive and has provided incredible resources for understanding and developing our abilities. But there are aspects of the situation that make me uncomfortable.
**Kendra:** Uncomfortable how?
Karan stared at his phone, trying to figure out how much to reveal about his suspicions regarding Eobard Thawne. He couldn't exactly text "my guardian is secretly a time-traveling supervillain from the future" without sounding completely unhinged. But he also didn't want to deceive Kendra about the potential complications of getting involved with S.T.A.R. Labs.
**Karan:** Let's just say that Wells is very interested in accelerating the development of enhanced individuals' abilities, and his motivations might not be entirely altruistic. I'm still figuring out the extent of the situation.
**Kendra:** So you're inviting me to meet your team at a facility run by someone whose motivations you don't trust? That's either very honest or very concerning.
**Karan:** Both, probably. Look, the practical resources at S.T.A.R. Labs are genuinely helpful - advanced training facilities, medical monitoring, technical support. But the interpersonal dynamics are more complicated than I initially realized.
**Kendra:** And you're telling me this because?
**Karan:** Because I think you deserve to know what you'd be getting into. And because I think having more people around who are aware of the complications might actually make the situation better rather than worse.
There was another pause, longer this time, and Karan found himself holding his breath while waiting for her response.
**Kendra:** That's either very naive or very strategic. I can't decide which.
**Karan:** Why can't it be both?
**Kendra:** Because naive and strategic usually cancel each other out. But I appreciate the honesty, even if it's making me more cautious rather than less.
**Karan:** So is that a no to meeting the team?
**Kendra:** It's a "let's have coffee first and see if I trust your judgment about this situation." Tomorrow afternoon work for you? There's a place called CC Roasters that's quiet enough for conversations about supernatural abilities without being overheard.
**Karan:** CC Roasters sounds perfect. What time?
**Kendra:** 2 PM? That gives us enough time to have a real conversation before you try to convince me that voluntarily walking into Harrison Wells' sphere of influence is a good idea.
**Karan:** I'm not going to try to convince you of anything. I'm going to give you the information and let you make your own decision.
**Kendra:** Well that's refreshingly different from most people who want to recruit enhanced individuals into their organizations.
**Karan:** I'm not recruiting you. I'm offering to share resources with someone who's dealing with similar challenges.
**Kendra:** Semantics. But I appreciate the attempt at respecting my autonomy.
**Karan:** The attempt?
**Kendra:** Karan, you broke the sound barrier on your second day of flight to help rescue 186 people. You're clearly someone who takes action when you think it's necessary. The question is whether you can recognize when stepping back is more appropriate than stepping forward.
The observation was uncomfortably accurate, hitting on exactly the tendency that had gotten him killed in his previous life. The impulse to help, to protect, to intervene, even when intervention might not be what the situation actually required.
**Karan:** That's fair. And you're right that I have a tendency to get involved in situations that might be better left alone. But I'm trying to learn the difference between helpful intervention and counterproductive meddling.
**Kendra:** How's that working out for you?
**Karan:** Still figuring it out. Though the aircraft rescue felt like the right kind of intervention.
**Kendra:** It was. I watched the coverage. You and Supergirl worked together really well for two people who'd never met before.
**Karan:** She's incredibly competent. Made me feel like I knew what I was doing even when I was terrified.
**Kendra:** That's a useful quality in a partner. The ability to project confidence while accommodating for the other person's inexperience.
**Karan:** Speaking from experience?
**Kendra:** I've had a few partnerships over the years. Some more successful than others.
**Karan:** Want to elaborate on that cryptic statement?
**Kendra:** Not via text. Some stories require actual conversation and the ability to read facial expressions.
**Karan:** Fair enough. Though now I'm even more curious about your background.
**Kendra:** Good. Curiosity means you'll actually pay attention during our coffee date instead of just trying to recruit me for your superhero team.
**Karan:** It's not a date. Is it?
There was a longer pause this time, and Karan immediately regretted the question. Too forward, too presumptuous, especially given that they were supposed to be meeting as fellow enhanced individuals rather than as potential romantic interests.
**Kendra:** Do you want it to be a date?
**Karan:** I want it to be whatever makes you most comfortable. If that's a professional meeting between colleagues, that's fine. If it's a date, that's also fine. I'm flexible.
**Kendra:** "I'm flexible" is possibly the least romantic thing anyone has ever said when asked if they want something to be a date.
**Karan:** In my defense, I haven't had much practice with dating. Between the coma, the supernatural armor, and the whole superhero thing, my social skills have gotten a bit rusty.
**Kendra:** Rusty social skills. That's almost endearing in its honesty.
**Karan:** I aim for endearing. Usually miss and land somewhere in the vicinity of awkward, but the intention is there.
**Kendra:** Okay, here's what we're going to do. Tomorrow at 2 PM, we're going to have coffee as two people who find each other interesting and want to learn more about each other's situations. Whether it evolves into something more romantic or stays professional will depend on how the conversation goes.
**Karan:** That sounds eminently reasonable.
**Kendra:** I have my moments. Though I should warn you - I'm very good at detecting when people are being less than completely honest with me. So if we're going to do this, even as just a professional meeting, I need you to be genuine rather than strategic.
**Karan:** I can do genuine. Genuine is actually easier than strategic for me.
**Kendra:** Then we should get along fine. Anything else I should know before tomorrow?
Karan thought about mentioning Wells' dinner invitation, the team expansion discussions, the various complications that were already forming around the simple concept of coffee with someone he found attractive and interesting. But all of that could wait until they were face-to-face and he could actually gauge her reactions properly.
**Karan:** Just that I'm really looking forward to meeting with you. Beyond the practical considerations about abilities and training, I genuinely enjoy talking to you. You make me think about things differently.
**Kendra:** That might be the most honest thing anyone has said to me in months. And yes, before you ask - that's a good thing, not a concerning thing.
**Karan:** Good. Because I was about to apologize for being too earnest.
**Kendra:** Never apologize for earnestness. It's refreshing, especially in a world where everyone's trying to be strategically mysterious all the time.
**Karan:** So tomorrow at 2. CC Roasters. Genuine conversation about supernatural abilities and possibly other subjects if the mood strikes.
**Kendra:** Perfect. And Karan?
**Karan:** Yeah?
**Kendra:** Thank you for being honest about the Wells situation. A lot of people would have just tried to sell me on the benefits without mentioning the complications.
**Karan:** A lot of people probably have better recruitment strategies than I do.
**Kendra:** Maybe. But honesty builds better foundations than strategy, even if it's less immediately effective.
**Karan:** I'll remember that. See you tomorrow.
**Kendra:** See you tomorrow. And Karan? Try not to rescue any more commercial aircraft between now and then. I'd prefer my coffee date to be well-rested rather than exhausted from saving half the city.
**Karan:** No promises, but I'll do my best to keep the heroics to a minimum.
**Kendra:** That's all I ask. Goodnight.
**Karan:** Goodnight.
Karan set his phone down on his nightstand, feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness about the next day's meeting. The text conversation had confirmed several things - Kendra was perceptive, direct, cautious about organizational involvement, and apparently at least somewhat interested in him beyond purely professional considerations.
It had also revealed that she'd been doing her own research into S.T.A.R. Labs and Harrison Wells, which suggested either good investigative instincts or personal experience with situations where superficially helpful organizations had more complicated agendas.
Either way, tomorrow's conversation was going to be interesting.
He was just settling in for sleep when his phone buzzed with one final message.
**Kendra:** By the way - the golden armor looks really good on you. Just thought you should know that someone noticed.
Karan stared at the message, feeling his face flush despite being completely alone in his room. The flirtation was unexpected, welcome, and slightly terrifying given all the complications surrounding his current situation.
**Karan:** Thanks. The wings suit you too. Even if I've only seen them in glimpses.
**Kendra:** Maybe tomorrow you'll get a better look. If you ask nicely.
**Karan:** I'll keep that in mind.
**Kendra:** You do that. Now actually get some sleep. Heroes need their rest.
As Karan finally set his phone aside and tried to focus on sleeping, he found himself thinking that Central City's hero community was developing in directions that were both more complicated and more interesting than he'd initially anticipated.
Tomorrow he would have coffee with someone who understood the burden of unwanted abilities, who seemed to appreciate honesty over strategy, and who apparently thought he looked good in divine armor.
Whatever complications came with that meeting, at least it would be genuinely interesting.
And after weeks of carefully managed training sessions and Wells' psychological manipulation, "genuinely interesting" felt like exactly what he needed.
Even if it came with its own set of potential complications.
—
## Central City National Bank - Later the same day
The call came through at 11:47 AM on a Wednesday, interrupting what had been a relatively peaceful morning of training exercises and ability assessments. Cisco's voice crackled through the communication system with the kind of urgent energy that meant something significant was happening.
"Guys, we have a situation. Central City National Bank, downtown branch. Multiple armed suspects, approximately fifteen hostages, and they're demanding a helicopter and safe passage out of the city."
Karan was in the middle of practicing construct formation when the alert came through, his golden bow dissolving back into light as he processed the information. Across the training chamber, Barry had been running velocity drills, his red suit a blur against the reinforced walls.
"How many suspects?" Barry asked, already moving toward the exit with the kind of restless energy that suggested he'd been waiting for exactly this kind of opportunity.
"Security footage shows at least four, all armed with automatic weapons. CCPD is setting up a perimeter, but Captain Singh specifically requested that they not attempt entry until they have a better assessment of the situation."
Karan manifested his armor in a flow of golden light, feeling the familiar warmth settle around him as the divine protection configured itself for combat operations. "Time since the robbery started?"
"Approximately eight minutes. They hit the bank during the late-morning lull, probably hoping for minimal resistance and maximum confusion."
Barry was already at the door, his cowl pulled up and his voice modulator engaged, creating the subtle harmonic distortion that would prevent voice recognition. "We should move now, before they get desperate enough to start hurting hostages."
"Agreed," Karan said, following him out of the training chamber. "Cisco, can you patch us through to CCPD so we can coordinate with their response?"
"Already working on it. But Karan, there's something else you should know—this is going to be Barry's public debut. The Flash, officially entering Central City's consciousness. Are you both ready for that?"
Through his armor's enhanced perception, Karan could sense Barry's mixture of excitement and nervousness. They'd been training for weeks, preparing for exactly this kind of situation. But there was a significant difference between controlled exercises and actual combat operations with real lives at stake.
"Ready or not, people need help," Barry said, and Karan could hear the determination in his voice beneath the electronic distortion. "That's what matters."
"Then let's go be heroes," Karan replied, manifesting his flight systems and feeling the familiar sensation of gravity becoming optional. "Barry, you take ground-level approach. I'll come in from above, get a sense of the interior layout and suspect positions."
"Coordinated entry?"
"On your mark. I'll provide overwatch and cover fire if necessary, you handle speed extractions for any hostages who are in immediate danger."
As they moved through S.T.A.R. Labs toward their exit points, Caitlin's voice joined the communication channel. "Medical protocols are active. I'm monitoring both your vital signs, and I've alerted Mercy General Hospital to expect potential casualties. Try not to be among them."
"We'll do our best," Karan said, launching himself into the air from the facility's rooftop. The flight to downtown Central City took less than three minutes at the speeds he'd been developing, the city spreading out below him in patterns of streets and buildings that his enhanced perception could parse with increasing sophistication.
Barry's voice crackled through the comms. "I'm two blocks out. Cisco, what's the CCPD situation?"
"Captain Singh has units surrounding the building, but they're maintaining distance per protocol. Detective West is on scene—he's requesting direct communication with whoever's coordinating the enhanced response."
"Patch him through," Karan said, circling above the bank and using his armor's visual enhancement to peer through the building's windows. "I can see four suspects on the main floor, all armed. Hostages are clustered near the teller stations, approximately twelve individuals visible from my position."
"This is Detective Joe West, CCPD." The voice that came through was professional, controlled, but carrying an undercurrent of tension that suggested he was very aware of the stakes. "Am I speaking with the individuals who assisted with the aircraft rescue three days ago?"
"This is Karna," Karan replied, noting how strange it felt to use his superhero name in an official capacity. "The Flash is approaching your position now. We're offering assistance with hostage extraction and suspect neutralization."
There was a brief pause, and Karan could imagine Joe processing the idea of working with masked vigilantes who had no official law enforcement authority.
"Understood. What's your tactical assessment?"
"Four suspects visible, all armed with what appear to be military-grade automatic weapons. Hostages are clustered in a relatively small area, which makes them vulnerable but also provides opportunities for rapid extraction. The suspects seem nervous, which suggests they weren't expecting the level of police response they're seeing."
"Nervous suspects tend to make bad decisions," Joe said grimly. "What's your proposed approach?"
Barry's voice joined the conversation. "I can move faster than they can track. If Karna can provide distraction from above—something that draws their attention upward—I can evacuate the hostages before they realize what's happening."
"And the suspects?"
"Non-lethal takedown," Karan confirmed. "I can create constructs that will disable their weapons and restrain them without causing serious injury."
"How confident are you in your abilities?" Joe's question carried the weight of someone who needed absolute certainty before authorizing action that could get people killed.
Karan thought about the weeks of training, the aircraft rescue, the growing understanding of his armor's capabilities. "Confident enough to try. And aware enough of the risks to abort if the situation deteriorates."
Another pause, longer this time. Then: "Okay. You're authorized to attempt hostage extraction. But the moment things start going sideways, you pull back and let CCPD handle it with conventional tactics. Understood?"
"Understood," both Karan and Barry replied simultaneously.
"Then let's do this. On your mark, Karna."
Karan adjusted his position, rising higher to get a better angle on the bank's interior. Through the windows, he could see the suspects pacing, their body language suggesting increasing agitation as police units continued to arrive. One of them was on a phone—probably communicating demands to the negotiators.
"Barry, I'm going to create a light show at the skylights. When their attention shifts upward, you move. Cisco, how many seconds do you estimate for complete hostage extraction?"
"At Barry's current top speeds, assuming optimal pathing and no complications? Approximately four to six seconds for all twelve hostages."
"Four to six seconds," Karan repeated. "That's how long I need to keep their attention focused on me instead of on ground level."
"I can do four to six seconds," Barry confirmed. "Just make sure your distraction is impressive enough that they don't think to look down."
Karan smiled despite the tension, manifesting his bow and drawing back a golden arrow that pulsed with concentrated solar energy. "Impressive I can do."
He released the arrow toward the bank's skylight, not aiming to penetrate but to impact with enough force to create a spectacular display. The arrow struck the reinforced glass with a sound like controlled thunder, and golden light exploded across the ceiling in patterns that were both beautiful and utterly alien.
Inside the bank, all four suspects immediately looked up, weapons tracking toward the source of the disturbance with the kind of panicked focus that meant they'd completely forgotten about everything else.
"Now, Barry!"
The Flash entered the bank as a red blur that moved too fast for human perception to track. One moment the hostages were clustered near the teller stations, terrified and uncertain. The next moment they were outside the building, deposited gently on the sidewalk behind CCPD lines with nothing but confusion and the lingering sense of having experienced something impossible.
"Hostages clear!" Barry announced, his voice carrying barely contained exhilaration. "Moving on suspects!"
Karan descended through the shattered skylight in a controlled fall that became flight, his armor's radiance filling the bank's interior with golden light that made the suspects shield their eyes. While they were disoriented, he created constructs—golden bands of solid light that wrapped around their weapons and yanked them from shocked hands.
"CCPD!" Joe's voice boomed from outside the building. "Drop any remaining weapons and put your hands on your heads! You are surrounded and outmatched!"
The suspects, finding themselves suddenly disarmed and facing both a golden-armored figure and a red blur that had somehow moved their hostages without anyone noticing, made the sensible decision to comply. They dropped to their knees, hands raised, expressions carrying the kind of shock that suggested they were still trying to process what had just happened.
Barry zip-tied their hands with movements too fast to follow, then stepped back to let CCPD officers move in for the formal arrest.
"Suspects secured," Karan reported, his armor already beginning to fade as the immediate threat passed. "No casualties, no significant property damage beyond the skylight I broke."
"We'll bill S.T.A.R. Labs for the repairs," Joe said, though there was unmistakable relief in his voice. "Good work, both of you."
As CCPD moved in to process the scene, Karan hovered above the building, watching the efficient choreography of law enforcement doing what they did best. Barry had already disappeared, probably circling back to S.T.A.R. Labs via a route that wouldn't reveal their base of operations.
Through his armor's enhanced hearing, Karan could pick up fragments of conversation from the rescued hostages—amazement, gratitude, confusion about what had happened and who had saved them. Someone was already filming on their phone, capturing footage of the golden-armored figure rising into the sky.
"Karna," Cisco's voice crackled through the comms, "the media is going absolutely crazy. We've got footage of the Flash evacuating hostages at super speed, footage of you making dramatic entrance through a skylight, and approximately twelve different people claiming they were saved by superheroes."
"Good," Karan replied, beginning his flight back to S.T.A.R. Labs. "Let them talk. Central City deserves to know they're protected."
"Dr. Wells wants a debrief as soon as you both return," Caitlin added, though her voice carried warmth rather than concern. "But I'm already seeing the medical telemetry—you're both fine. Better than fine, actually. Whatever you did out there, your coordination was perfect."
As Karan flew over the city, watching the patterns of normal life continuing below, he found himself thinking about the implications of what had just happened. They'd made their official debut as Central City's superhero team. The Flash and Karna, working together to save innocent people from dangerous situations.
It had felt right. Natural. Like exactly what they were supposed to be doing with their abilities.
But he also knew that this was just the beginning. Every successful operation would raise expectations, create demands for their involvement in increasingly dangerous situations. And somewhere in the background, Eobard Thawne would be watching, analyzing, using their development as heroes to further his own temporal agenda.
The question was whether they could stay ahead of his manipulation long enough to become the heroes Central City truly needed.
One crisis at a time, Karan reminded himself, touching down on the S.T.A.R. Labs rooftop where Barry was already waiting, his red suit making him look like a victorious banner against the afternoon sky.
"We did it," Barry said, grinning with undisguised joy. "We actually did it."
"We did," Karan agreed, manifesting just enough armor to clasp Barry's offered hand. "Welcome to the hero business, Flash. Something tells me it's going to be an interesting ride."
—
## The Next Day - CC Roasters Coffee Shop - 2:00 PM
The afternoon sunlight streaming through CC Roasters' oversized windows painted everything in warm amber tones, making the exposed brick walls and mismatched furniture look like something out of an artfully composed photograph. Karan had arrived five minutes early, claiming a corner table that provided good sightlines to both entrances—old habits from his previous life, apparently amplified by enhanced situational awareness courtesy of divine armor.
He was reviewing his mythology notes when Kendra walked in, and for a moment his brain simply stopped processing information that wasn't related to how unfairly attractive she looked in jeans and a leather jacket that probably cost more than his entire wardrobe.
"You're staring," Kendra said as she approached the table, though her smile suggested she didn't particularly mind.
"I'm appreciating," Karan corrected, standing to pull out her chair with old-fashioned courtesy that made her eyebrows rise. "There's a difference."
"Smooth. Did you practice that line, or does it come naturally?"
"Little bit of both." Karan settled back into his own seat, noting the way she positioned herself to have clear views of the exits. "Though I should probably mention that my social skills are approximately seventy percent genuine awkwardness and thirty percent desperate improvisation."
"That's more honest than most people manage on a first date." Kendra set her bag down, her dark eyes studying his face with the kind of attention that suggested she was cataloging every micro-expression. "So. Coffee as mythology students, coffee as enhanced individuals, or coffee as two people who find each other interesting and are trying to figure out what that means?"
"I'm hoping for option three with elements of one and two mixed in," Karan replied. "Though I should probably lead with the practical stuff before my brain gets too distracted by how good you look."
Kendra laughed, genuine and surprised. "Okay, that was actually smooth. Maybe your improvisation percentage is higher than you think."
A server appeared to take their orders—something complicated and caffeinated for Kendra, plain coffee for Karan because his enhanced metabolism apparently processed everything else like rocket fuel. Once they were alone again, Kendra leaned forward, her expression growing more serious.
"So. S.T.A.R. Labs. Harrison Wells. Your team of enhanced individuals who apparently coordinate superhero operations from a research facility. Tell me why I should consider getting involved with that situation."
Karan appreciated the directness, even as he tried to organize his thoughts into something resembling coherent explanation. "Honest answer? The practical resources are incredible—advanced training facilities, medical monitoring, technical support from people who understand what we're dealing with. But the interpersonal dynamics are complicated in ways I'm still trying to fully understand."
"Complicated how?"
"Wells is brilliant and genuinely invested in developing our abilities. But his motivations feel... layered. Like there are goals he's working toward that go beyond just helping enhanced individuals learn to use their powers safely."
Kendra's expression didn't change, but Karan caught the slight tension in her shoulders. "You're saying you think he has an agenda."
"I'm saying I think everyone has an agenda, and his is more complex than it initially appears. Which doesn't necessarily make it malicious, but it does make it something to be aware of."
"And you're still living there, training with his equipment, accepting his guidance."
"Because the alternative is trying to develop these abilities alone, without support or resources or people who understand what I'm going through." Karan met her eyes directly. "Sometimes the best choice available is still a compromise with unknown variables."
Their coffee arrived, providing a brief interruption that Kendra used to process what he'd said. When the server left, she took a careful sip before speaking again.
"I've been researching Wells and S.T.A.R. Labs for the past few days. The official story is that the particle accelerator explosion was a tragic accident caused by equipment malfunction. But there are... inconsistencies in the timeline that don't quite add up."
"What kind of inconsistencies?"
"The kind that suggest someone might have known the accelerator was going to malfunction and made specific preparations beforehand." Kendra pulled out her phone, scrolling through what appeared to be extensive notes. "Insurance policy adjustments two weeks before the explosion. Personnel changes that moved key staff out of the blast radius. Equipment modifications that weren't documented in any official reports."
Karan felt his pulse quicken. "You think the explosion was deliberate?"
"I think it's worth asking questions about. Which makes the idea of voluntarily entering Wells' facility significantly more complicated than just 'should I accept help from someone with resources.'"
The observation aligned uncomfortably with Karan's own suspicions about Eobard Thawne's true nature and goals. But he also realized that sharing his knowledge about time travel and secret identities would sound completely unhinged without evidence to support it.
"If you're right about Wells having advance knowledge," Karan said carefully, "that would suggest a level of planning and manipulation that goes beyond simple corporate negligence."
"Exactly. Which brings me back to my original question—why should I get involved with a situation that's clearly more complex than it appears on the surface?"
Karan considered this, weighing honesty against the practical need to build alliances. "Because isolation is its own kind of danger. Because having a support network—even one with complicated motivations—is better than trying to navigate these abilities alone. And because..." He paused, trying to articulate something that felt important. "Because I think having more people around who are asking questions might actually make the situation better rather than worse."
"Strength in numbers?"
"Awareness in numbers. If Wells does have hidden agendas, having multiple people observing and analyzing his behavior makes it harder for him to manipulate any single individual."
Kendra studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "That's either very strategic or very naive."
"I've been told it might be both." Karan managed a wry smile. "But I'm operating on the assumption that transparency and honest communication are better foundation-building tools than secrecy and strategic positioning."
"Even when dealing with someone who might be fundamentally dishonest?"
"Especially then. Because if I start compromising my own principles to counter someone else's manipulation, I become exactly the kind of person I'm trying to protect others from."
The statement hung between them, and Karan realized he'd just revealed more about his personal philosophy than he'd intended. But Kendra's expression had shifted to something that looked like respect mixed with curiosity.
"Okay," she said finally. "I'll meet your team. Not because I trust Wells—I don't, based on what I've researched. But because I trust your judgment about the value of not facing these challenges alone."
Relief washed over Karan, stronger than he'd expected. "Thank you. And I promise, if you get uncomfortable with any aspect of the situation, you can leave. No pressure, no obligations beyond whatever you choose to take on."
"I'll hold you to that." Kendra's smile returned, warmer now. "So. Now that we've covered the practical superhero stuff, can we talk about the fact that you flew at supersonic speeds to rescue a commercial aircraft on your second day of flight training?"
"In my defense, the situation required immediate response and I didn't have time to overthink the impossibility of what I was attempting."
"Applied terror leading to extraordinary achievement?"
"Exactly. Though I'm hoping most of my future heroics involve slightly less terrifying learning curves."
They fell into easier conversation after that, discussing Dr. Chen's mythology class, the challenges of balancing civilian life with enhanced abilities, and the strange experience of suddenly having capabilities that defied rational explanation. Kendra talked about her wings—the sensation of flight, the combat knowledge that seemed to come from nowhere, the frustrating experience of having skills without understanding their origin.
Karan found himself relaxing in ways he hadn't since waking up in this new life, talking to someone who understood both the wonder and the terror of supernatural abilities. Kendra was sharp, funny, perceptive in ways that made him feel seen rather than analyzed. And the way she looked at him suggested the attraction was mutual, even if they were both being careful not to let physical interest override practical concerns.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text, and Karan glanced at it apologetically.
**Barry:** Iris wants to meet you and me. Something about interviewing enhanced individuals for a journalism project. Interested?
Karan looked up from his phone to find Kendra watching him with amused curiosity. "Problem?"
"Possibly opportunity. My roommate's best friend wants to meet us—apparently she's working on a journalism project about enhanced individuals."
"Us meaning you and your speedster partner?"
"The same. Though I should probably mention that Iris West is Detective Joe West's daughter, which adds layers of complication to any interview scenario."
Kendra's eyebrows rose. "You're going to let a cop's daughter interview you about your superhero activities?"
"I'm considering it. Iris lost her internship because she was researching stories that her supervisors didn't want covered. That suggests either genuine journalistic integrity or dangerous curiosity."
"Or both." Kendra leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "Though if you're serious about building a hero community based on transparency rather than secrecy, talking to a journalist might actually be consistent with your principles."
"You think I should do it?"
"I think you should do whatever feels right for your particular approach to heroism. I'm still figuring out my own principles." She paused, then added with a slight smile, "Though I'd be interested in meeting this Iris West. Anyone who sacrifices their career to pursue uncomfortable truths sounds like my kind of person."
Karan typed out a quick response to Barry.
**Karan:** Tell her I'm interested. And I might be bringing someone else who's dealing with similar situations.
**Barry:** Enhanced individual someone else or civilian someone else?
**Karan:** Enhanced. The student I mentioned before. Long story, will explain when I get back.
**Barry:** Looking forward to it. Iris suggested dinner at Jitters tomorrow evening. Casual, public, non-threatening environment.
**Karan:** Works for me. Check with Kendra—she's sitting across from me now.
There was a pause, then Barry's response came through with what Karan could only describe as digital excitement.
**Barry:** YOU'RE ON A DATE RIGHT NOW? And you stopped to text me back? Dude, priorities!
**Karan:** It's not— okay it might be a date. Still figuring that out.
**Barry:** I'm texting Cisco immediately. He's going to be so excited that you're finally socializing like a normal human being.
**Karan:** Please don't make this weird.
**Barry:** Too late. Already weird. Have fun on your definitely-a-date!
Karan looked up from his phone to find Kendra watching him with obvious amusement. "Let me guess—your team is excited that you're having coffee with someone?"
"My team is apparently very invested in my social development. They might be placing bets on whether this qualifies as a date."
"What would you like it to qualify as?"
The directness of the question caught Karan off-guard, though he probably should have expected it by now. Kendra wasn't someone who wasted time with ambiguity when direct communication was more efficient.
"I'd like it to be the first of many conversations between two people who find each other interesting and attractive, with the understanding that we're both dealing with complicated situations that might affect our ability to pursue anything more serious in the immediate future."
Kendra's smile widened. "That's possibly the most carefully worded 'yes, this is a date' I've ever heard."
"I'm trying to balance honesty with not coming on too strong."
"Coming on too strong would be declaring your eternal devotion after one coffee. Admitting you find me attractive and interesting is just refreshingly direct." She stood up, gathering her bag. "Walk me back to campus?"
"Absolutely." Karan left money on the table for their drinks, then followed her out into the afternoon sunlight.
The walk back to Central City University took them through downtown streets that were still buzzing with lunchtime energy, giving them plenty of ambient noise to cover their conversation about wings and armor and the strange experience of suddenly being capable of impossible things.
"So tomorrow evening," Kendra said as they approached the campus, "dinner at Jitters with your speedster partner and a journalist who wants to interview enhanced individuals. That should be interesting."
"That's one word for it. 'Potentially disastrous' is another phrase that comes to mind."
"Where's your sense of adventure?"
"Currently battling with my sense of caution for control of my decision-making processes." Karan grinned despite his concerns. "But you're right that it could be valuable. If we're going to operate as heroes, we need relationships with people who can help translate our activities for public consumption."
"Plus, it gives me a chance to assess your team dynamic before I commit to joining your organization."
"It's not really an organization. More of an... informal collective of people with abilities who are trying not to accidentally destroy things while helping people."
"That's an even worse pitch than your S.T.A.R. Labs recruitment speech."
"I'm working on my marketing materials."
They'd reached the edge of campus, and Kendra turned to face him fully. "Thank you for being honest about the Wells situation. A lot of people would have just tried to sell me on the benefits without mentioning the complications."
"Thank you for being willing to give it a chance despite those complications." Karan hesitated, then added, "And thank you for agreeing to meet with Iris tomorrow. I think it could be the beginning of something important."
"The beginning of a functional hero community, or the beginning of us getting exposed and having to deal with all the complications that come with public superhero identities?"
"Possibly both. But I'm choosing to be optimistic."
Kendra stepped closer, and for a moment Karan thought she might kiss him. Instead, she placed a hand on his chest, right over where his armor manifested, her eyes holding his with unmistakable intent.
"Next time we have coffee, it's definitely a date. No ambiguity, no careful wording, just two people who are attracted to each other seeing where that goes. Understood?"
"Understood," Karan managed, very aware of how close she was and how good she smelled.
"Good." She stepped back, her smile carrying promise and challenge in equal measure. "See you tomorrow evening, Karan. Try not to rescue any more aircraft between now and then."
As she walked away, Karan found himself grinning like an idiot despite all the complications surrounding their situation. He had a date—a real, unambiguous date—with someone who understood his abilities and apparently found him interesting despite his tendency toward earnest awkwardness.
He also had a dinner meeting with a journalist who wanted to interview him about his superhero activities, a team expansion to manage, and a time-traveling supervillain guardian to avoid arousing the suspicions of.
But for right now, standing in the Central City University afternoon sunshine watching Kendra Saunders disappear into the campus crowd, Karan allowed himself to feel simply happy.
Some moments were worth savoring, even when you knew they were just brief respites before the next crisis.
And something told him that the next crisis was already waiting in the wings, preparing to make his life significantly more interesting whether he was ready for it or not.
---
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